Buckwalter Place has another development hit. It’s getting a McDonald’s, one with the newest design themes. No more trips to U.S. 278 for fast food.

And you’ll be able to buy Exxon gas, milk and other goods next door at the “state of the art” Blue Water Convenience Center with doors that automatically open.

Or get a laser-system, touch-free automatic car wash.

The 3-acre site fronts Buckwalter Parkway on the northwest corner of its intersection with Buckwalter Place Boulevard. Jupiter Holdings Inc. of Charleston will develop the site and build, own and operate a Blue Water Convenience Center on it, president Eddie Buck Jr. said.

Closing on the purchase from Buckwalter Place will occur within two weeks, according to Buck and real estate broker B. Michael Carmody Jr. of CBRE/Carmody LLC, Charleston.

McDonald’s Corp. has signed a 20-year ground lease for about half of the site. Jupiter Holdings will provide the building pad and McDonald’s will handle construction of the restaurant, according to Carmody and Buckwalter Place developer Matt Green.

For Jupiter Holdings, “This is a $3 million dollar project. NBSC will be our banking partner for this project. We have a strong relationship that goes back many years,” Buck said.

‘THE PLACE TO BE’

Buckwalter Place Boulevard is the main entrance to the 94-acre Buckwalter Place, a planned unit development, which so far includes the Publix center, CareCore National, the town police station, the under-construction Station 300 bowling center, and has lots of untapped space for housing and more businesses.

Both Buck and a McDonald’s spokeswoman said the businesses wanted to become part of the growing Buckwalter Place community and be early players in the prospective Bluffton hub, and that and the existing businesses are a customer attraction.

“We feel like the right things are happening there, and it’s the place to be,” Buck said.

“It’s centrally located to pull from 278, and I guess Old Bluffton; and then in the surrounding areas, there’s room for development when the economy improves”

“We’ve always as part of our plans wanted to join forces with a fast food chain and we’re happy with McDonald’s,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a winning combination for both of us.”

BLUE WATER TARGETS

Jupiter Holdings is going through the development review and permitting process at Town Hall.

“We would like to get started (building) in January,” Buck said.

The target is to open by the RBC Heritage golf week, April 9-15, and the start of vacation season. “That’s a tight schedule to make, but that’s our goal.”

Builders are being considered. “We hope to have permits in place and a builder by the end of the month,” he said.

After opening, “at peak season (Blue Water) will probably employ as many as 10,” Buck added.

“Our goal was to make this a convenience center, not just a convenience store.”

Buck said the “state of the art, 3,000-square-foot convenience store” will have 1,150 feet of adjoining space for another service provider. Prospects have included sandwich shops and a yogurt shop.

McDonald’s Corp. will build and own the restaurant building and has franchised operations to Michael and Laura Eggers, who also own restaurants on Lady’s Island and in Port Royal and Beaufort, said Susan Stimson, McDonald’s Corp. regional marketing manager in Atlanta.

“Construction is slated to begin in the spring and the restaurant will take about three months to complete.”

The Eggers are “very involved” in the design, she said.

“Buckwalter Place was chosen because it is a new development and we wanted to be part of it. We look for areas where there is opportunity to become part of the community,” Stimson said.

“The restaurant will seat about 68 to 70 customers in a variety of ‘zones’ ranging from quick, bar-type high seating to unique bench seating. The décor will be fresh and vibrant.”

Also, “for customers in a hurry, the restaurant will feature a side-by-side drive-thru ….”

BUILDING SYNERGY

Carmody said two things made Buckwalter Place attractive to his clients: “A, because of the road system. B, because of what’s in there and what’s going to be there — just having the synergy that’s there. …

“They didn’t want a stand-alone place.”

Green said the new businesses will fit the vision for a dense, walkable, self-contained community.

“A McDonald’s and a gas station — why is that big news? There’s a vision out there for Buckwalter Place, and we’re starting to pick away at the vision,” Green said.

“People say, ‘A gas station? That’s not what you’re talking about for economic development.’ But that’s not true. It is. …. It’s part of the community.”

JUPITER HOLDINGS

Jupiter Holdings also includes Buck Lumber and Building Supply Co. in Charleston, Parkway Self Storage on Red Cedar Street in Bluffton, and other storage businesses and real estate holdings.

The Bucks started in the convenience store business by acquiring the Kiawah General Store on Kiawah Island, where Buck Lumber was a major supplier for development.

The “Blue Water” name for Jupiter’s convenience stores division “signifies ‘clean and refreshing,’ ” and represents the Lowcountry lifestyle of “spending time on the water boating and fishing,” said Jupiter Holdings President Eddie Buck Jr.